Several drought-stricken states in the western US face more water cuts after missing a deadline to reduce use from the rapidly diminishing Colorado River.

The Colorado River provides water to 40million people across Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, California, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and the Mexican state of Sonora, as well as fueling an agricultural industry valued at $15billion.

The river’s largest reservoirs – Lake Mead and Lake Powell – are only about one quarter full.

If water levels fall any lower, the reservoirs will be unable to generate hydroelectric power. Lake Mead’s Hoover Dam alone generates 4billion kilowatts per hour, enough power for 1.3million people, according to the US Bureau of Reclamation (USBR).

‘Prolonged drought and low runoff conditions accelerated by climate change have led to historically low water levels in Lakes Powell and Mead,’ the USBR stated. ‘Given that water levels continue to decline, additional action is needed to protect the System.’

The region’s historic ‘megadrought’ has been ongoing for 23 years.

‘The worsening drought crisis impacting the Colorado River Basin is driven by the effects of climate change, including extreme heat and low precipitation,’ said USBR Deputy Secretary Tommy Beaudreau. ‘In turn, severe drought conditions exacerbate wildfire risk and ecosystems disruption, increasing the stress on communities and our landscapes.’

In June, the USBR gave states 60 days to figure out a plan to reduce water use from the river by at least 15%.

The mid-August deadline passed on Tuesday, with no plan negotiated.

Without a deal in place, the states will rely on terms negotiated 100 years ago in the Colorado River Compact.

Under the terms outlined by the treaty, Nevada, Arizona and Mexico will end up shouldering most of the burden. Arizona will have cut 21% of its water use, Nevada will cut 8% and Mexico will cut 7%.

The hardest hit from the cuts will be farmers in central Arizona, experts said. Arizona will be forced to tap into its water reserves in cities like Phoenix and use water from the smaller Salt and Verde Rivers. Some farmers will be forced to grow less water-intensive crops.

Nevada is expected to barely feel the cuts. It currently does not use all of its Colorado River water, and recycles all of its indoor-use water.

California, which also draws water from Lake Mead, will not face any cuts due to seniority.

The declining water level of Lake Mead has lead to other more grisly headlines too.

A set of human remains was discovered yesterday – the third set found this year. Experts believe the remains could be linked to Las Vegas area mafia cold cases dating back to the 1970s.

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